Panana Hawai'i | Hawaiian star compass
Hale | Houses
Imagine you are the bird (a NOIO) in the center of this this picture.
La | Sun - The sun stays in this house for most of the year as it moves back and forth between its southern limit at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S) at Winter Solstice to its northern limit at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) at Summer Solstice.
'Aina | Land - This house between 17° and 28° on the horizon from east and west can be remembered because Hawai'i ('Aina, or Land) is at 21° N latitude and Tahiti ('Aina, or Land) is at 18° S latitude.
Noio | Hawaiian Tern - Is the bird at the center of the compass. helps a navigator find islands because it flies out to sea in the morning to fish (range about 40 miles) and returns to land at night to rest.
Manu | Bird - the four houses of Manu, midway between the four cardinal directions, can be seen as the points of the beak, tail, and outstretched wing-tips of a bird; the bird is the traditional Polynesian metaphor for the canoe. On early voyages to Tahiti, the Hokule'a sailed in the direction of Manu Malanai, with its wings and Manu Ko'olau and Manu Kona, and its tail pointed back at Manu Ho'olua. On the canoe there are 4 manu. two in the front and two in the back, they are in each directional point.
Nalani | Canopus - Named for the brightest star in this house, Ke ali'i o kona i ka lewa (Canopus), which rises in Nalani Malanai and sets in Nalani Kona.
Na Leo | The Voices - Refers to the voices of the stars speaking to the navigator.
Haka | Empty - This house is named for the relatively empty skies around the north and south celestial poles; Kamakau say the names of these areas are Uliuli ("deep, dark blue") and Lipo ("deep, dark night")..
Blurb on the importance of chants in Hawaiian history....
Below is a chant for the directions
Nā Hale Pānānā
Hiki mai nō ka lā, i ka Hikina ē
Komo aku nō ka lā, i Komohana ē
Noho nō ka Hema e, ma ka lima hema lā
Noho nō ka ʻĀkau e, ma kou lima ʻākau lā
Neneʻe holo nō ka lā, ma ka hale o ka Lā
Noho ʻo Hawaiʻi nei, ma ka hale o ka ʻĀina lā
Lele aʻe ka Noio lām ma ka pōʻai manu ē
Kuhi mau ka Manu lā, i nā hoa manu ē
ʻO Kealiʻiokonaikalewa ē, e noho ana ma Nālani lā
Lohe mai i ka hea ē, i ka hōkū ʻole lā
He mele no nā hale pānānā
. . .
The sun arrives, it is east
The sun enters in the west
South is called left
North is called right
The sun moves in Lā
Hawaiʻi is in ʻĀina
The Noio sets the bird circle
The Manu points to its house
Canopus is in Nālani
The kupuna call in Nāleo
Haka is empty with few stars
Mele for the houses of the compass
Written by Kaimana Barcarse